The Chronicles of the Counts Dracula-Cardie. Adapted from Baron Olshevris novel «Vampires» - Olga Boyko

Скачать книгу

walks along the old Venetian street, he turns right and opens the glass door of an antique shop.

      INT – VENICE, ANTIQUE SHOP – SAME DAY

      Carlo looks around in the antique shop. The old Jewish SALESMAN greets him

      SALESMAN

      I have special goods for you.

      The salesman opens up the cupboard and gets a beautiful jewel-box (the box from the Hunting House) and places it on the counter before Carlo

      CARLO

      Who did it belong to?

      SALESMAN

      To the roman Empress Messalina!

      Carlo slides his fingers across the box

      CARLO

      It has no lock?

      SALESMAN

      (smiles)

      I’d rather show you

      (the salesman’s hand moves the apple into the bird’s beak and the box opens)

      Voila!

      CARLO

      Rita will love this.

      The salesman shows Carlo various compartments inside the box. Each is filled with ladies’ jewels. The piece de resistance is a large roman comb with pink pearls

      SALESMAN

      Your bride will be delighted, signore.

      Carlo picks up the comb and looks at it

      CARLO

      It will look magnificent in Rita’s dark curls!

      EXT – VENICE, STREET – SAME AUTUMN DAY

      Carlo walks along the cobbled Venetian street. Wheels of carriages roll past him, frilled hems of the ladies’ gowns move along and a single blue blossom falls from the basket of the street flower seller, lying on the rough cobblestones

      CARLO’S VOICE

      (behind the scenes)

      Up until now, if you do not count my mother’s fit and the disappearance of her favorite dog, everything was simple and logical.

      After that we were plunged into something we could not understand

      END OF THE MEMORIES

      EXT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, GARDEN-SUMMER DAY

      BEGINNING OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

      Count Frederick and his family doctor walk in the western part of the garden

      TITLE: 1832

      COUNT FREDERICK

      She is recovering well, even her complexion is improving.

      The doctor looks at his clock on the chain

      FAMILY DOCTOR

      The fresh air will be good for her, but still, don’t leave her alone by herself.

      COUNT FREDERICK

      I am worried about her hallucination, the one about the snake.

      They stop and look at each other. The doctor puts the clock into the pocket

      FAMILY DOCTOR

      I am telling you, she put the necklace on herself.

      COUNT FREDERICK

      Well, either way, she will never see that damned necklace again.

      The doctor looks at his feet and then at the count again

      FAMILY DOCTOR

      There is a strange epidemic in the village. Seems to affect girls and young women.

      Count Frederick thrusts his hands into the pockets of his trousers. He fidgets in place. He doesn’t like this conversation

      COUNT FREDERICK

      Do you think it is somehow connected to what had happened to my wife?

      They walk further along the garden

      FAMILY DOCTOR

      No, I don’t think so.

      COUNT FREDERICK

      So, why are you so worried, my friend?

      The doctor looks around as if afraid that someone can hear them and stops near a rose bush

      FAMILY DOCTOR

      Old beggar-woman saw a well-dressed, elderly gentleman who was walking away from the village in the direction of the castle.

      Lucy appears suddenly and drags Carlo from his hiding place behind the rose bush. Count Frederick and the family doctor see the children and fall silent

      LUCY

      I caught you!

      EXT – CARDIE’S CASTLE, BALCONY – SAME EVENING

      A funeral bell tolls from the direction of the village. Everyone crosses themselves.

      Countess Maria lies propped up on the chaise lounge, surrounded by her family. Her private balcony is large enough to resemble a terrace. The Countess shivers.

      Count Frederick and Petro stand nearby on the balcony

      COUNTESS MARIA

      Another death in the village?

      COUNT FREDERICK

      I am sure it is nothing, my dear. Do you want me to send Petro to find out?

      PETRO

      You will see, my lady, that the Count is right and there is nothing to worry about.

      COUNTESS MARIA

      Go, Petro, find out, perhaps they need help.

      She falls back onto her pillows, tiredly. The bells start to ring once more

      The Count mutters in Petro’s ear…

      COUNT FREDERICK

      She must never learn of the epidemic.

      PETRO

      I will come up with something.

      EXT-GARDEN OF THE WIDOW’S HOUSE-SUMMER EVENING

      A small village house is surrounded by a garden. One part of the garden faces the main village road.

      WIDOW’S DAUGHTER (17 years old) and a young servant girl LISA (16 years old) pick berries in the garden.

      ELDERLY GENTLEMAN (aka American Servant 80 years old) walks towards the garden wall from the main road. He addresses Lisa

      ELDERLY GENTLEMAN

      May I have some water, my child?

      He hands the girl a silver coin over the fence. She stares at it for a brief moment then takes the coin.

      INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, MUSICAL SALON – SAME EVENING

      Count Frederick’s fingers glide masterfully along the keys of the piano.

      Countess Maria listens to her husband play the piano. The children and the servants headed by Petro are all nearby.

      EXT-GARDEN NEAR THE WIDOW’S HOUSE – SAME SUMMER EVENING

      Lisa walks along the garden path, carrying a pitcher of kvass. She trips

Скачать книгу